have freed the land from destruction; behold the dragon's heads, which are the proofs of my valour; therefore recollect, every promise is a debt." As soon as the king heard this, he lifted the crown from his own head and set it upon the countryman's poll, who looked just like a thief on the gallows[1].
The news of this proclamation flew through the whole country, till at last it came to the ears of Cienzo, who said to himself, "Verily I am a great blockhead! I had hold of Fortune by the forelock, and I let her escape out of my hand: here's a man who offers to give me the half of a treasure he finds, and I care no more for it than a German for cold water; the fairy wishes to entertain me in her palace, and I care for it as little as the ass for music; and now that I am called to the crown, here I stand, like a tipsy woman with her spindle, and allow a hairy-footed bumpkin to pass me by, and let a rascally thief cheat me out of my trump-card." So saying he took an inkstand, seized a pen, and spreading out a sheet of paper, began to write:—
"To the most beautiful jewel of women, Menechella, the Infanta of Lost-Wits.—Having by the favour of Sol in Leo saved thy life, I hear that another plumes himself with my labours, that another claims the reward
- ↑ Alluding to the crown, or mitera, placed upon the head of criminals when hung. The same custom was in some countries practised with persons going to be burnt by the Holy Office.
